(Matthew 9:27-35)

In the Gospel reading for today we hear of the healing of two blind men. The Gospel tells us that: ‘When Jesus departed… two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him: “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying: “According to your faith let it be unto you.” And their eyes were opened.’

There are two very important lessons for us from today’s Gospel… the first lesson regards the state of blindness and of sight; the second lesson is found in our Lord’s words: ‘According to your faith let it be unto you’.

This image set before us in the Gospel, of blind men calling out to God for His mercy is precisely the true state and picture of mankind. We are indeed like blind men, with no spiritual vision to see the obvious workings and blessings of God occurring every day, every hour, and every minute in our lives. We are extremely limited in our spiritual vision and go about this life as men and women who are blind, only occasionally ‘seeing through a glass darkly’ at the magnificence and mercy of God.

Some may not even be aware of their blindness. For a man ignorant of his blindness, this world contains nothing more than that which can be perceived by his five physical senses… measured, categorized, and understood by scientific methods. All of the world, indeed all of the universe, is subject to what can be understood within the bone vault of his brain. Any promptings of a world beyond… from his conscience, from knowledge born of suffering, from the specter of death… these are pushed aside because in our pride and fear of weakness, we refuse to acknowledge that we may indeed be blind.

Another reaction to this spiritual blindness is exemplified in today’s Gospel by the two blind men. They knew they were blind. They understood that there was a world of sight which was lost to them, but which they longed to possess. They knew their insufficiency and they wished to be made whole.

This, brothers and sisters in Christ, is the first essential lesson from today’s Gospel… we must recognize our insufficiency and, having acknowledged our spiritual blindness, we must call out to the One Who asks, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ Do you believe that I can make you whole?

The blind men in today’s Gospel replied, ‘Yes, Lord!’ They had faith in Jesus Christ. They believed in His ability and they trusted Him to make them whole, to restore their sight.

And what was it that our Lord said to them? He said, ‘According to your faith, let it be unto you.’

‘According to your faith, let it be unto you’… this statement contains profound spiritual truth and instruction. How will it be for us?… it will be according to our faith.

Many of us suffer through all kinds of difficulties – physical, psychological, and spiritual problems; interpersonal problems in our relationships with those around us; financial problems and worries about our future; fear and doubt and all manner of disturbances. We need to take an honest look at the circumstances of our life and our reactions to them and ask ourselves ‘how is my faith?’ For, if according to our faith, so will it be for us – then this is an important and fundamental question.

Our happiness, our contentment, and our blessedness in this life – will be for us according to our faith. Indeed, our eternal fate when standing before the judgment seat of Christ – will be for us according to our faith.

Is our Lord promising us that if we have faith, then all of our problems and infirmities will be suddenly resolved? No, this is not often the case. But it is true that if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all things will be added unto us. Our reactions to the circumstances of our life differ greatly depending on the strength of our faith and trust in God. Two people can experience the same circumstances and one will be in heaven while the other is in hell. How can this be? The one who has faith in the Lord does not despair and retains that perspective and trust that God is watching over him. Even though he may have sorrow, he retains the hope which is born from faith. Another may become immersed in the sorrow of his circumstances and see no way out. According to our faith, so will it be for us.

If our faith is weak, we lose perspective and become storm-tossed in the sea of life. Remember the example of the Holy Apostle Peter, who saw the Lord walking upon the water. Peter, in his innocent faith and enthusiasm, stepped out upon the waters to go to his Lord and walked on the water as well. But he did not sustain this strong faith and began to be buffeted by thoughts that caused him to waver and sink into the storm-tossed seas. Our Lord reached out and picked him up and said, ‘Why did you doubt, o ye of little faith?’ What was the difference between those initial steps which Apostle Peter took upon the waters and the final steps when he began to sink into the deep? It was the strength of his faith that kept the Apostle Peter afloat. It is the same for us.

Faith in God helps us to recognize and overcome the incompleteness of our limited vision to see the wholeness of things. Recognizing our blindness, let us call out to Christ to have mercy on us. Let us reach out to Him with a trusting and determined faith… and according to our faith, may it be so for us.